Can-filling machine



B. P. BABCOCK.

CAN FILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 8.13.1920.

1 434 766. v I Patented Nov, 7, 1922,.

2 SHEETSSHEET-l.

IIII

millllllllllll IIIIIIIIII 1 B. P. BABCOCK.

CANFILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.13,1920.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. I /7 f gf lit) Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BASIL P. BABCOCK, OF CHICAGb, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SPRAGUE CANNING MACHINERY COMPANY, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION -OF ILLI- NOIS.

CAN-FILLING MACHINE.

Application filed February 18, 1920. Serial No. 358,339.

To all whom. it may concew Be it known that I, BASIL P. BABoooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Filling Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to can filling machines of the type used'to fill cans w th a single material of a liquid or semi-liquid consistency, such as corn prepared for canning purposes, and the like.

The object of my invention is the production of a machine of't-his character which will be of durable and economical construction, and which will permit of ready access to the internal parts thereof for cleaning.

A. still further object is the production of a machine of the character mentioned which will be positive and accurate in operation and, through the medium of which, cans may be fill d with great rapidity.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. With these objects in View, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which v Fig. 1 is a substantially central vertical seztion through a can filling machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the plunger operating cam included in the construction;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the mechanismshown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4'is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on substantially line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken through one of the measuring devices, the section being taken on substantially line (3-43 of Fig. 5. i

The preferred form ofconstruction, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a suitable base 10 from which arises a centrally positioned rotary shaft or post 11. The shaft 11 is suitably driven,as for instance, through machine, the cans to be filled are adapted to be revolved in a manner hereinafter described. Upon the upper side of table 15 are arranged circularly formed tracks 16 upon which the cans are adapted to be moved, said 7 tracks being of conventional form to force the cans into close engagement with the measuring devices hereinafter described. A guide rail 17 is provided for insuring travel of the cans upon trackslt, the cans being supplied to the table 15 from a transferdisk 18 and removed from said table by means of a transfer disk 19. The guide 17 is extended over the disk 18 to constitute'a can deflector 17, and a deflector 20 is provided for cooperation with the disk 19, as will be readily understood.

The transfer disks 18 and 19 will be suitably driven as, for instance, by means of a. bevel gear 21 which may be provided at the lower end of the spindle 22 carrying the disk, as seen in Fig. 1, the gear 21 meshing with a bevel gear 21 carried by a shaft 23 suitably mounted in the base 10 and having a bevel gear 24 at its inner end meshing with the bevel gear 12.

Mounted upon the upper end of shaft 11 so as to rotate therewith, is a receiving chamber 25 for the material to be canned. Symmetrically arranged at the under side of said receiving chamber is a plurality of measur ing chambers 26 of cylindrical form and so positioned that their axes areradially disposed in the same horizontal plane. Said measuring chambers are formed at their upper sides with flanges or bosses 27 which are bolted or otherwise suitably fastened to the under side of receiving chamber 25.

Formed in the flanges or bosses 27 are passages 28, the upper ends of which, as seen in Fig. 1, communicate with the outlet openings 29 formed in the bottom of chamber 25, the lower ends of said passages 28 communicating with inlet ports 30 formed in the upper sides of measuring chambers 26, as clearly. seen in Fig. 6.

Formed in the under side of each measuring chamber 26 is an outlet port 31 from which leads a downwardly taperingcom-- paratively short discharging nozzle or throat 'the cans as the same are supplied-to the table from the disk 18 and cause the cans to revolve upon said table in unison with and directly under the measuring chambers.

Inlet to and discharge from each measuring chamber is effected through the medium of a tubular rotatably mounted valve 34 arranged in each measuring chamber, as clearly seen in Fig. 6. Each valve 34 is formed with an opening 35 adapted, during rotation of the valve,- to alternately register with the inlet and outlet ports 30'and 31 respectively of the filling chamber to effect successive filling anddischarge of the chamber.

Such rotation of the valves 34 is efiected by means of gears 36 provided at the inner ends thereof and secured thereto by screws 37. Each of said gears and hence the valve cooperating therewith, is held against longitudinal or axial shifting by means of a hooked keeper 38 provided at the under side of the measuring chamber and which loosely engages with a circumferential flange 39 "formed upon the gear, as clearly seen in Fig. 6.

The gears 36 mesh with a horizontally dis-- posed stationary crown gear 40 formed at the under side of a plate 41, the hub of which is locked to a sleeve 42 embracing the shaft 11, which sleeve is also held against rotation in a manner to be presently described.

The arrangement is such, as will be seen, that in the revolution of the measuring chambers, as results upon rotation of the receiving-chamber 25, the gears 36 will be caused to rotate through engagement thereof with the stationary gear 40, with the result that, during such revolution of the measuring chambers, the valve 34 of each measuring chamber will alternately open or uncover the inlet and outlet ports 30 and 31.

Discharge of each measuring chamber is effected by means of a plunger 44 arranged therein for reciprocation in the corresponding: valve 34, the measuring chamber and its corresponding valve and plunger being all coaxially arranged. The plungers 44 are thus arranged to move radially in a horizontal'plane. The stems 45 of said plungers project from the inner ends of the measuring chambers through suitable bearings 45 carried by said measuring chambers 26, and are provided with rollers 46 which engage in a groove 47 provided in a cam 48. The cam 48 is mounted upon the upper end of a support 49 arising from the table 15, said support being formed at its upper side with parallel rails or flanges 50 which on- In order to permit of this shifting of said cam, the same is formed centrally with an elongated slot 52 to accommodate a block 53 which loosely embraces the shaft 11. The block53 .isformed at its upper end with shoulders 54 which extend over the cam 48 to hold the same against vertical movement. The lower end of block 53 rests upon the support 49, the upper end of said block, in turn, being engaged by the lower end of sleeve 42 which supports the plate 41. The plate 41 serves as a partial support for the receiving chamber 25, assisting the shaft 11 in this respect. .The ball bearing 43 is interposed between the under side of the receiving chamber and the plate 41 to alleviate friction.

In the operation of the machine, it will be seen that the rollers 46 will travel in the cam groove 47 with .the result that the plungers 44 will be caused to reciprocate in the measuring chambers in order to effect discharge of the same through the outlet ports 31.

The cam 48 is held against shifting by means of screws 55 threaded in the opposite sides thereof and engaging against opposite sides of the block 53. Axial shifting of the plungers relative to the measuring chambers in order to vary the quantity of material measured by the chambers may be effected by simply adjusting the screws 55 so as to shift the cam 48, such shifting causing the plungers to be advanced or retracted relative to the chambers, as will be readily understood.

In order to lock the plate 41 and hence the gear 40 against rotary movement. the plate 41 is formed at opposite sides with depending fingers 56, as clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4, which loosely engage elongated slots 57 formed in cam 48, the elongation of said slots being such as to permit of the desired shifting of the cam, as above described.

The outer ends of the measuring chambers are closed by caps or heads 58, each of which is removably held in position by means of a yoke 59, the ends of which are detachably secured by screws or otherfastening devices 60. a centrally positioned screw 61 provided in the yoke engaging with a centrally positioned recess 62 provided in the outer side of the corresponding cap or head 58. The arrangement is such, as will be seen, that the outer sides of the measuring chambers are fully exposed and unobstructed so that upon removal of I the heads. 58, access to the interiors of said measuring chambers may be readily gained to permit of cleansing, adjustment or repair. The inner ends or stems 45 of plungers 44 plungers from the roller-carryiigg inner end;

memes are of sectional or jointed-construction, the

which are held in position by split or cotter pins 64. The arrangement is-such that, upon removal of the heads 58 of the measuring chambers as just described, the plungersfi l may also be removed by simply removmg the pins 63 in order to disconnect the portions of thestem thereof. y unscrewing the screws 37 the valve ma be freed from the gear 36, and then slipped out through the outer end of the measuring chamber, Y

With this arrangement then, it will be seen that a construction is provided in which access maybe readily gained to the internal parts of the machine so as to permit of the machine being easily kept in clean and sanitary condition.

In the operation of the machine, the cans are fed to the table 15 from the disk 18, and are revolved upon said table through engagement therewith of the can sweeps '33. As the cans are thus revolved upon said table, the same will be sup lied with a.

measured quantity of materia as supplied thereto from the measuring devices 26. Hotation of the valves 34; is, of course, timed to synchronize with the reciprocations of plungers 44 so that filling of the measuring chambers will occur when the plungers are retracted or at their inner terminals of movement and discharge from said chambers through the nozzles 32 will occur when said plungers are moved outwardly. lne under sides of the outer faces of plungers 4d are bevelled or inclined as at it, as seen in Fig. 6, in order to insure complete discharge from the measuring chambers when the plungers are moved to their outer terminals of movement, such bevelling or inclinat'ion reventi trap in of an of the liquid ahe dd of th e plung ersg Afte filling, the cans are moved from the table 15 by the discharge or transfer disk 19.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. l therefore do not wish to be limted to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A can filling machine comprising a re ceiving chamber for the material to be canned; a plurality, of horizontally revolvable radially extending measuring cylinichare deinner ends of said ders V communicating with said receiving chamber and having outlet openings; means for cutting 0% communication between said receiving chamber and measuring cylinders; horizontally moving plungers 'cco crating with said measuring cylinders for ischarg ing the same, said plun'gers projecting inwardlytrom said measuring cylinders; and means within the orbit of movement of said measuring cylinders and engaging with the plungers for actuating the latter.

2. A can filling machine comprising a plurality of revolvable radially extending measuring cylinders lying in a horizonta plane; plungers cooperating with said measuring cylinders for discharging the same, said plungers being arranged to move radially in substantially the same horizontal plane; and means arranged within the orbit of movement of said measuring cylinders for actuating said lungers.

3. A can fil ing machine comprising a pluralityof revolvable measuring chambers; a plunger operating in each of said chambers for discharging the same, said lungers projecting from one end of the chamber, the opposite end of each chamber being exposed; a removable closure for said exposed end of each chamber, the corresponding plunger, upon removal of each closure, being removable through the exposed end of the chamber; and a joint in each plunger permittin of detachment of the outer portion thereor.

d. A can filling machine comprising a' plurality ct revolvable cylindrical measuring chambers, said chambers being arranged with their axes substantially horizontally and radially disposed; a plunger operating in each of said chambers for discharging the 2105 same, said plunger projecting from the inner end of the chamber; and a removable closure tor'the outer end of each measuring chamber.

5. A can filling machine comprising a pluare rality of horizontally revolvable radially extending measuring cylinders; horizontally moving plungers cooperatin with said cyl' inders for discharging the same; meansfor actuating said plungers; and means for va- 3H8 rying the relative axial position of said plungers and cylinders to vary-the quantity of material measured by said chambers.

6. A can filling machine comprising a plurality of horizontally revolvable radially extending measurin cylinders; horizontally moving plungers cooperating With said cylinders for discharging the same; a cam for actuating said plungers; and means for adjusting the position of said cam to vary the Ml relative axial position of said plungers and cylinders.

7 A can filling machine comprisin a plurality of horizontally revolvable radially extending measuring cylinders; horizontally 1 moving plungers cooperating with said cylinders for discharging the same, a shiftably mounted cam for actuating said plungers; and means for shiftably adjusting said cam to vary the relative axial position of said plungers and cylinders.

8. A can filling machine comprising a plurality of horizontally revolvable measuringchambers, each having inlet and outlet openings; means rotatably mounted within said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; and means for discharging said chambers through said outlet openings.

9. A can filling machine comprising a plurality of horizontally revolvable measuring chambers, eachhaving inlet and outlet openings; means rotatablymounted within said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; and means operating in said last mentioned means for discharging said chambers through said outlet openings.

10. A can filling machine comprisin a plurality of horizontally revolvable measuring chambers, each having inlet and outlet openings; tubular valves rotatably mounted in said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; and means for discharging said chambers through said outlet openings.

11. A can filling machine comprising a plurality of horizontally revolvable measuring chambers, each having inlet and outlet openings; tubular valves rotatably mounted in said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; and means mounted to reciprocate in said valves for discharging said chambers from said outlet openings.

12. A can filling machine comprising a plurality of horizontally revolvable measuring chambers, each having inlet and outlet openings; tubular valves rotatably mounted in said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; and plungers operating in said valves for discharging said chambers through said outlet openings.

13. A can filling machine comprising a plurality of revolvable measuring chambers, each having inlet and outlet openings; tubular valves rotatably mounted in said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; means for discharging said chambers through said! outlet openings;

means for rotating said valves comprising gears thereon; and a stationary gear meshing with said first mentioned gears.

14. A can filling machine comprising a plurality of horizontally revolvable cylindrical measuring chambers, each havin inlet and outlet openings; tubular rotary valves arranged coaxially with said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; and means for discharging said chambers through said outlet openings.

ing chambers, each having 15. A can filling machine comprising a. plurality of horizontally revolvable cylindrical measuring chambers each having inlet and outlet openings, said chambers being arranged with their axes coplanar and radially disposed; tubular rotary valves arranged coaxially with said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; and means for discharging said chambers through said outlet openings.

16. A can filling machine COIIlPllSlIlg a plurality of revolvable cylindrical measuring chambers, each having inlet and outlet openings, said chambers being arranged with their axes coplanar and radially disposed; tubular rotary valves arranged coaxially with said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; means for rotating said valves comprising gears thereon; and a common stationary gear meshing with all of said valve gears.

17. A 'can filling machine comprising a plurality of horizontally revolvable cylin drical measuring chambers, each having in lot and outlet openings, said chambers being arranged with their axes coplanar and radially disposed; tubular rotary valves arranged coaxially with said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; plunger-s operating in said chambers for discharging the same through said outlet openings; and means arranged within the orbit of movement of said chambers for actuating said plungers.

18. A can filling machine comprising a plurality of revolvable cylindrical measurinlet and outlet openings, said chambers being arranged with their axes coplanar and radially disposed; tubular rotary valves arranged coaxially with said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers; means for rotating said valves comprising gears thereon; a common stationary gear meshing with all of said valve gears; plungers operating in said chambers for discharging the same through said outlet openings; and means arranged within the orbit of movement of said chambers for actuating said plungers.

19. A can filling machine comprising a plurality of'revolvable horizontally disposed cylindrical measuring chambers, each having inlet and outlet ports; a rotary valve arranged coaxially with each of said chambers for alternately opening said inlet and outlet ports; a plunger operating in each of said chainbers for discharging the same; and means for actuating the valve and plunger cooperating with each chamber so that the plunger will be moved in a direction to permit of filling the chamber when the inlet port thereof is open and said plunger will be moved to discharge the chamber when the outlet port thereof is open.

20. A can filling machine comprising a all esa-gee plurality of revolvable horizontally disposed cylindrical measuring chambers, each having inlet and outlet ports; a rotaryvalve arranged coaxially with each of said chambers for alternately opening said inlet and outlet ports; a plunger operating in each of said chambers for discharging the same; means for actuating the valve and plunger cooperating with each chamber so that the plunger will be moved in a direction to permit 01 filling the chamber when the inlet port thereof is open and said' plunger Will be moved to discharge the chamber When the outlet port thereof is open; and means for revolving the cans to be filled in unison with said measuring chambers.

21. A can filling machine comprising-a rotatable reservoir, a plurality of horizontal measuring cylinders, mounted underneath said reservoir, to rotate therewith, each'cylinder having a receiving passage through which material from the reservoir is supplied to the cylinder, and a discharge passage through which material is discharged from the cylinder to the cans, a piston operating in said cylinder for Withdrawing material from said reservoir and discharging it into a can, and a valve in each cylinder rotatable about a horizontal axis for controlling both the receiving and discharge passages.

22. A can filling machine comprising a rotatable reservoir, a plurality of horizontal measuring cylinders, mounted underneath said reservoir to rotate therewith, each cylinder having a. receiving passage through which material from the reservoir is supplied to the cylinder, and a discharge passage through vvhieh material is discharged from the cylinder to the cans, a piston operating in said cylinder for withdrawing new terial from said reservoir and discharging it into a can, and a valve in each cylinder rotatable about a horizontal axis for controlling both the receiving and discharge passages, said valve being removable from the cylinder through the outer end thereof.

23. A can filling machine comprising a rotatable reservoir, a plurality of horizontal measuring cylinders, mounted underneath said reservoir to rotate therewith, each cylinder having a receiving passage through which material from the reservoir is supplied to the cylinder, and a discharge passage through which material is discharged from the cylinder to the cans, a piston operating in said cylinder for Withdrawing material from said reservoir and discharging it into a can, and avalve in each cylinder rotatable about a horizontal axis for controlling both the receiving and discharge passages, said piston being removable from said cylinder through the outer end thereof.

24. A can filling machine comprising a rotatable reservoir, a plurality of horizontal measuring cylinders, mounted underneath said reservoir to rotate therewith, each cylinder having a receiving passage through which material from the reservoir is supplied to the cylinder, and a discharge passage through which material is discharged from the cylinder to the can, a piston operating in each cylinder for Withdrawing material from said reservoir and discharging it into a can, a cam Within the orbit of said cylinders for controlling said pistons, and means for adjusting said cam to vary the amount of material measured in said cylinder.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

BASIL P. BABCQCK. 

